This paper contains an account of various Lithobiomorpha collected from time to time in different parts of New Zealand Hitherto only six species of the suborde have been known from this country — Lithobius argus Newport, Henicops maculatus Newport, H impressus Hutton, Lamyctes emarginatus (Newport), Haaseilla insularis (Haase), and Anopsobius neozelaniucs Silvestri. In the following pages three new species of Lamyctes are added, including one from the Kermadec Islands and another from the Chatham Islands, the genus Paralamyctes, hitherto unknown in New Zealand, is represented by two new species; and a new genus, Wailamyctes, with two new species, is described from specimens collected in Canterbury and Stewart Island.

Head with one pair of eyes. Antennae with from 30 to 37 joints. Tergites (fig. 1) in the anterior region with posterior angles rounded, and slightly emarginate, becoming increasingly emarginate, and with the angles less rounded posteriorly. Mandibles (figs. 2 and 2a) with complex teeth, a set of pectinate processes above the teeth and a fringe of fine hairs below them. Labrum (fig. 3) unidentate, inner edges of lateral pieces fringed with small hairs. First pair of maxillae (figs. 4 and 4a): inner rami separated to a considerable extent, provided with plumose and simple hairs: outer rami with plumose hairs along the inner edge, and simple hairs elsewhere. Prosternum narrowed anteriorly, teeth distinct. Stigmata on the 1st, 3rd,

5th, 8th, 10th, 12th, and 14th segments. Legs of the 1st to 13th pairs with tarsi biarticulate; of the 14th and 15th pairs with protarsus divided into 2 segments and tarsus into 4. Tibial spur on legs 1 to 14.

Type: H. maculatus Newport.

Chamberlain (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard, vol. 57, No. 1, p. 4, 1912) has given the absence of plumose hairs on the inner ramus of the first pair of maxillae as one of the characters distinguishing the Henicopidae from

the Lithobiidae. In all the specimens which I have examined of H. maculatus there are two or three plumose hairs as well as simple hairs on the inner ramus. The presence of these plumose hairs may perhaps be used to distinguish Henicops from the other genera of the family.

Colour (in spirit) above yellowish-brown, each tergum with an irregular broad dark edging and a median broad dark band. The general appearance of the dorsal surface is thus a light groundwork with three longitudinal dark bands. The head is also dark around the margin.

Fig 5 —ProsternumFig 5a —15th legFig 5b.—Gonopods of?

Antennae: the joints range in number from 30 to 37, varying evenly around 34. Prosternum (fig. 5) with praecoxal processes rounded anteriorly, teeth uniformly 3 + 3. Tergites anteriorly with rounded angles and with the posterior borders slightly emarginate, the emargination and the acuteness of the angles increasing posteriorly. Tibial spur on legs 1 to 14. Legs long and hairy, the tarsi with 2 + 2 spinules beneath, set at the distal ends

“Head broadly ovate, narrowed towards the front, with an elevated margin behind, and an impressed curved transverse line, convex backward, on the top before the eyes; space between the antennae concaye. Dental lamina with eight acute teeth. Antennae tomentose, with 34–36 joints. Segments 15 (without the head), alternately large and small; but the small segment between the 7th and 8th, and between the 14th and 15th, absent; each segment with a raised margin. Above olive-brown, generally more or less marbled with black; legs pale-bluish; feet yellow. Under-surface of head and region of anus reddish. Some scattered hairs on the legs. Length 0.6 in.

“Hab —Dunedin and Queenstown.

“It is astonishing with what rapidity this creature runs.”—(Hutton.)

The type of this species has been lost, and I have not seen any specimens corresponding exactly with the above description. Hutton does not mention any characters at present regarded as critical which would distinguish it from H. maculatus, except the number of praecoxal teeth. I take Hutton's “eight acute teeth” to be equivalent to 4 + 4. From the specimens I have examined of H. maculatus, it appears to have 3 + 3 teeth uniformly, and so, in the absence of definite information, I do not think it advisable to combine H. maculatus and H impressus at present.

than wide; femur 1.6 times as wide as tibia. Tibial spur on legs 1 to 11. Tergites (fig. 9) with anterior and posterior angles all rounded; a slight posterior emargination is evident on the 8th tergite, increasing in depth in posterior segments.

Length 9 mm.

Loc.—Riccarton, Christchurch (G. A.).

Note—I have identified the specimens included under this name off the colour alone. The type specimen appears to have been lost, and the character used by Newport to define the species—i.e., the dentition of the prosternum—is common to many species of the genus, if, indeed, it be not a generic character. Newport examined a preserved specimen when he described L. emarginatus, and the specimens here included under this name were the only preserved ones in my collection which retained the ferruginous colour. The determination is as unsatisfactory as can be, and can only be regarded as a compromise until the type is found or the matter is otherwise settled.

Coxal pores small, 3, 3, 3, 2, or 2, 3, 3, 3. Gonopods of ♀ (fig. 14) with inner basal spurs sharp, and slightly shorter than the outer, which are blunt; terminal claw curved and sharp. First tarsal joint of 15th leg (fig. 15) 7.1 times as long as wide: femur 1.7 times as wide as tibia. Tibial spur on legs 1 to 12. Tergites with a slight posterior emargination on 3rd and 5th segments, otherwise as in L. emarginatus.

Length 10 mm.

Log.—Chatham Islands (Miss S. D. Shand).

4. Lamyctes kermadecensis sp. n. (Figs. 16 and 17.)

Colour (in spirit) dark brown.

Antennae broken. Prosternum (fig. 16) 1.72 times as wide as long, very sparsely hairy; teeth 1.2 + 2.3 (the usual arrangement, with the addition of two very small teeth on the right side). Coxal pores large, 3, 3, 3, 3. Gonopods of ♀ as in L. chathamensis. First tarsal joint of 15th leg (fig. 17) 9 times as long as wide; femur 1.77 times as wide as tibia. Tergites as in L emarginatus.

Length 10 mm.

Loc.—Sunday Island (Kermadec Group).

Genus Wailamyctes nov.

Fifteen leg-bearing segments. Head with or without eyes. Labrum (fig. 18) unidentate, the lateral pieces provided with a fringe of hairs.

of maxillae (fig. 20): inner ramus small, with a few simple hairs; outer ramus provided on the inner edge with a row of plumose hairs, and with numerous simple hairs elsewhere. Labial palp 3-jointed, terminal segment with plumose hairs on the inner side, terminal claw complex. Prosternum (fig. 21) produced forward, narrowing slightly, with straight dental edges, separated by a median sulcus and armed with from 4 + 4 to 6 + 6 even-sized teeth. Tergal plates with angles distinctly rounded and posterior margins straight, except in the posterior segments, where there is a slight emargination. Spiracles as in Lamyctes. First to 12th pairs of legs with tarsi entire, 13th to 15th pairs with tarsi biarticulate. Tibial spur present 1st to 13th legs. Coxal pores on the last four pairs of legs.

Type: Wailamyctes trailli sp. n.

Key To The Species.

Eyes absent

1. W. trailli sp. n.

Eyes present

2. W. halli sp. n.

The two species given in the key are in all respects, except in the presence and absence of eyes, so much alike that I have no hesitation in assigning them to the same genus. Both differ from Lamyctinus Silvestri (Boll. Lab. Zool., R. Scuola Superiore d'Agric., Portici, vol. 4, p. 38, 1909) in the presence of tibial spurs on the 13th leg, and in the form of the prosternum, which in Lamyctinus is of the usual form found in Lamyctes.

Genus Paralamyctes Pocock, 1901.

Fifteen pedigerous segments, with tergites either simply rounded behind, or with produced posterior angles on some segments. Spiracles on segments 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14. A pair of eyes on the head (fig. 28). Antennal segments 19 to 43. Labrum (figs. 32 and 32a) unidentate, with a fringe of plumose hairs on the lateral pieces. Teeth on prosternum even-sized, 2 + 2 to 10 + 10. Mandible (fig. 29) with complex cutting-teeth, laciniate processes, and a row of plumose hairs on the inner side. First pair of maxillae (fig 30) with plumose hairs on the outer ramus, and simple hairs on the inner. Labial palp (fig. 31) with plumose and simple hairs. All the tarsi biarticulate. Tibial spur on legs 1 to 13. Coxal pores on the last 4 pairs of legs. Gonopods 3-jointed.

1. Paralamyctes validus sp. n. (Figs. 28 to 35.)

Antennae with 25 to 28 joints, the distal joints long and narrow. A pair of eyes present on the head (fig. 28). Prosternum (fig. 33) with broad dental edges, armed with 8 + 8 main teeth, with two or three smaller teeth

Body similar to the Henicopipae in appearance, and with the same number of segments. Spiracles on segments 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, and 14. Eyes absent. Antennae moniliform. Labrum (fig. 37) free, with median sulcus, unidentate. Mandible (fig 38) with toothed blade, provided with small laciniate processes. First pair of maxillae (fig 39) triarticulate, with plumose and simple hairs on the outer rami, and with simple hairs only on the inner rami. Toxicognaths with coxae much produced, dental edges straight and inclined inwards. Tibial spur on legs 1 to 12. Tarsi of the 1st to 12th legs uniarticulate, of the 13th to 15th biarticulate Coxal pores (fig. 40) on the last two pairs of legs. Coxae of the last pair of legs (fig. 40) and, to a less extent, of the penultimate pair, produced infero-posteriorly into an acute tooth.

and a large sharp inferior spine situated anteriorly on the 3rd joint. Penultimate legs with a sharp spine (smaller than on the last pair) on the 3rd joint. Terminal claw of the last pair with a small hair, and one accessory claw, the other legs (fig. 45) with a simple hair and two accessory claws.

A few collecting notes may perhaps be added here. Henicops maculatus was found only under stones on a hillside, and not in the bush. It runs with amazing speed, so much so that it was usually necessary to obtain the assistance of a friend, who would turn the stone over while the collector concentrated his attention upon the swiftly disappearing centipede. This recalls the remark of Hutton upon the speed of H. impressus. The species of Lamyctes were generally found under the stones or logs in the bush, although the specimens of L. emarginatus all came from my garden at Riccarton, and were found under any board which had been left lying on the ground for a week or two. These centipedes made use of a subterfuge in attempting to escape. They would rush under the nearest leaf or piece of bark, with all the appearance of intending to go as deep as possible; but instead of doing this they curled up at once under the leaf, and one's

hurried digging usually gave them a good chance of escape, until the trick was discovered. Anopsobius neozelanicus is much smaller than the other centipedes, and moves comparatively slowly. It was found only at the

edge of the bush, never far in, and never outside altogether. Its habit when disturbed varies: sometimes it will feign death, and at other times it will run about wildly in every direction in its attempts to escape.